Electronic remote control music mobile with built-in mp3 player, timer, colorful lights, remote baby monitor, and adjustable support arm

ABSTRACT

The electronic mobile is mountable to a crib through an adjustable arm where the height and length can be adjusted. The device includes a central operating unit with built in MP3 player with USB port, timer, colorful lights, baby monitor baby unit, electric motor as well as baby monitor remote unit, and two speakers. The MP3 player, timer, colorful lights and electric motor can be operated either manually or through remote control. The built in baby monitor baby unit links to the baby monitor remote unit, allowing two ways communications. At the base of the mobile there are several animal figures attached using a hook and safety latch. The central operating unit is detachable from the adjustable arm and mobile, and the unit can be powered by battery or the AC/DC adaptor with cord that runs inside the adjustable arms.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/316,126, filed on Mar. 22, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved remote control musicalmobile integrated with a MP3 player with USB port, timer, baby monitor,motorized mobile, colorful lights and adjustable arm.

2. Description of Related Art

Toy mobiles entertain the baby and even promote development of thebaby's mind. Studies show that colorful shapes enhance colordifferentiation and stimulate visual recognition and development. Musicmobiles produce different sounds to develop the baby's hearing capacityand ability to differentiate sounds. The invention combines music, colorand baby monitoring together to present a new generation of baby musicmobiles.

The related art describes a number of devices that can be used tostimulate an infant or newborn's brain activity and visual activity anda number of devices that can be used to monitor the baby while theparents are not in the same room as the baby.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,047 issued to Kachel outlines the use of lightedfiber optic mobile. The crib mobile wherein the objects or charactersattached to its appendages, or any point on the appendages, can emitactive twinkling or sequencing colorful light. It uses optic fibers totransmit light form a light source in the mobile's central housing tothe objects or characters, or a given location on the appendages. Thelight is made active and colorful at the output end of the optic fibersby placing a light influencing slide between the light source and theinput end of the revolving optic fibers that are routed from theappendages and are grouped together in front of the light source.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,786 issued to McCormick outlines the use ofcontinuous play musical mobile. The mobile, which is operated by amotor, is mounted to the crib or playpen by means of a resilient shaftthat will move under the influence of vibrations from the motor, therebyimparting another type of motion to the mobile. In addition a taperecorder or sound chip is incorporated into the device so parents canplay soothing music to the infant. The recorder or sound chip is voiceactivated and has a mode switch which allows a parent to operate themobile upon hearing noise, to turn the mobile manually, or to turn themobile off.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,360 issued to Fearon et al. outlines the use ofinfant musical mobile that utilizes a compact disc and cassette player.The mobile is also mounted on the side of the infant's crib or playpenand has a variety of ornaments that hang over the infant. The mobile canbe used to play continuously or can self-actuate in response to theinfant's sounds or movements. There is also an infrared remote controlused with device as well.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,049,968 issued to Fitzgeald et al. outlines a babymonitor system with a remote monitoring unit communicable with a babyunit a soothing unit is provided. The baby unit is responsive toreceiving a signal representative of an audible sound transmitted fromthe remote monitoring unit and the remote monitoring unit is responsiveto receiving a signal representative of an audible sound transmittedfrom the baby unit.

The devices described in the Khamphilavong et al., the Kachel patent,the McCormick patent, the Fearon et al. patent, and the Fizgeald et al.patent utilize various features regarding the movement of the musicmobile, the remote control of the music mobile, and monitoring of thebaby while parents or caregivers are not in the same room as the baby.The devices described in these patents are very useful and can beimproved in so many ways that are really needed per today's technology.It would be beneficial to provide baby music mobile equipped with MP3and other functions so that parents can program and play variety ofsongs and music for any desired duration, in the same time parents canmonitor the baby while they are not in the same room with the baby. Itwould be of further benefit to enhance baby color differentiation andvisual ability while enjoying the soothing music.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved remote control musicalmobile integrated with a MP3 player with USB port, timer, baby monitor,motorized mobile and colorful lights and adjustable arm.

The first object of the invention is to incorporate a built in MP3player into the central operating unit. The MP3 player will comepreloaded with popular baby songs. The unit will also have thecapability to connect to a PC via USB port and upload music. The MP3player will have a button interface and have the ability to be remotelycontrolled via the remote control, both allowing volume and songselection. The central operating unit is detachable so as to make iteasy to upload music. The central operating unit can be made of variousshapes with different colors to further attract baby's attention. Beingdetachable, the central operating unit can be used as a music player asthe baby grows older.

The second object of the invention is to make the mobile arm adjustable.With infants growing, their seeing distance is changing, and infantsintend to grab the toys, thus there becomes a need to adjust the arm'sheight, encouraging infants to reach out and further developing motorskills.

The third object of the invention is to integrate a microphone, a smalltransmitter and receiver into the central operating unit. There is alsoa remote monitoring unit which remotely monitors the baby. When the babymakes a noise or cries, the signal will go to microphone and betransmitted to the remote monitoring unit so parents or caregivers canbe notified. The remote monitoring unit will allow the parent orcaregiver to talk to the baby, comforting the baby as if the parent orcaregiver were with him/her. A mute switch on the remote monitoringunit, allows the parent or caregiver to turn off the signal going to thebaby monitoring unit, so that way unwanted background noise can be mutedduring times of a noisy background, such as a TV, kitchen appliances,washing machines, etc.

The fourth object of the invention is to provide a remote control forthe central operating unit, allowing the unit to be turned on or off,shuffle music, change volume, change light intensity, and/or set thetimer.

The fifth object of the invention is to put a built in timer on thecentral operating unit. The timer will control the MP3 player, themotorized mobile rotation, and the colorful lights. The baby monitor canonly be turned on or off by manual selection, versus using remotecontrol.

The sixth object of the invention is to incorporate a motorized mobileto rotate the mobile. Being motorized, parents won't have to worry aboutwinding the mobile, thereby providing parents the ability to control themobile operation at designated time period set forth in the timer. Themobile's motor is controlled by the timer either remotely or by manuallysetting the timer using front panel controls.

The seventh object of the invention is to integrate colorful lights onthe bottom of the central operating unit with the ability to shut offmanually or while in the on position turn off by the timer. The lightswill be dimly lit with the capability to slightly change the intensityas well as with the ability to turn off completely. The light will passthrough the moving parts of the mobile creating a shadowing effect. Thelights will help pacify the baby while they listen to music and watchthe moving parts under the central operating unit.

The eight objective is the use of DC to power the musical mobile. Themusical mobile arm is comprised of plastic conduits and the DC cordpasses up through plastic conduits to connect and supply power to thecentral operating unit. The conduit not only provides extra protectionagainst electrical hazards, but also prevents strangulation hazards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 0 is an environmental, perspective view of a electronic remotecontrol musical mobile integrated with a MP3 player with USB port,timer, baby monitor, motorized mobile, colorful lights and adjustablearm according to the present invention.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of the front and back of centraloperating unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustable support arm according tothe present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the remote control.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are perspective views of the remote monitoring unitof baby monitor

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of the musical mobile according tothe present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments ofthe present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale andcertain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate andexplain the present invention. Although the exemplification set outherein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, theembodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to beconstrued as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise formsdisclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustiveor limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the followingdescription. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so thatothers skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.

The present invention is a remote control musical mobile integrated witha MP3 player and USB port, timer, adjustable arm, baby monitor,motorized mobile and colorful lights with main embodiments centraloperating unit A depicted in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1 B, and adjustable arm Bdepicted in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1A, it is a perspective view of the remote controlmusic mobile central operating unit A according to the presentinvention. The central operating unit A of the remote control musicalmobile is comprised of a MP3 player, USB port, timer, baby monitor,motorized mobile and colorful lights. Item 109 is the MP3 player screen,107 is the start or pause button, 106 is next button, 110 is previousbutton, and 108 is the stop button. Above item 109 is the MP3 volumeadjuster 111. Volume adjuster 111 also serves as the MP3 manual on/offpush button. The MP3's volume and song selection can also be controlledby remote control (details about the remote control will be discussed inFIGS. 3A and 3B). The MP3 on/off function can also be controlledmanually or by the timer. Item 113 is the timer screen and 114 is thestart button for the timer. When button 114 is pressed, a maximum of 120minutes will be present on screen 113; when button 114 is pressed again,the minutes will be reduced by 10 minutes; and so on until reduced tozero minutes. The timer function 114 can also be set by remote control(details about the remote control will be discussed in FIGS. 3A and 3B).The MP3 player comes with a standard USB cable 128 shown in FIG. 1B,where it connects to USB port 127. USB port 127 allows the parents orcaregivers to upload music of their choice. The musical song selectionand volume can be selected manually or through the remote control (shownin FIGS. 3A and 3B). The MP3 sound exits through speakers 101 on leftand right sides of the central operating unit A.

As shown in FIG. 1A, 103 is an infrared receiver which receives signalsfrom the remote control infrared signaling device 301, shown in FIGS. 3Aand 3B which directly controls the timer 114, MP3 player volume 111,colorful lights 105, and indirectly controls the motorized mobile 104through the timer 114.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the built in colorful lights 105 can be manuallyshut off by using on/off switch 117. Power to the colorful lights canalso be controlled by the timer 114 or the remote control (shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B). The colorful lights 105 are LEDs with multi coloredplastic lenses. The colorful lights 105 intensity can be manuallyadjusted by using light intensity adjuster 118 or by remote control(shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). The 118 adjuster also allows the lights tobe turned off altogether, if desired. The colorful lights on/offfunction 117 can also be controlled by remote control (shown in FIGS. 3Aand 3B).

As shown in FIG. 1A, the built in baby monitor baby unit microphone 119,and remote monitoring unit (shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) which can beturned on/off by baby monitor switch 124. The microphones 119, will pickup noises from the baby and a built in transmitter will transmit thesignal to the receiver known as the remote monitoring unit (shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B). The baby monitor is the only function that cannot beoperated via the timer or remote control. Only on/off switch 124 canoperate the baby monitor on/off function. The remote monitoring unit(shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B) volume can be controlled by a volume wheel407 (shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B). Remote monitoring unit has an AC/DCadaptor shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C and a battery compartment as anoption to allow the parent greater range of movement. The remotemonitor's signal strength is indicated by a green or yellow light 408. Aparent or caregiver can talk to the baby using the remote monitoringunit through microphone 403, and speaker 404 which allows baby sounds tobe received from the baby monitoring unit FIG. 1A. The remote monitoringunit depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B transmits the signal to the baby unit'sreceiver built in the central operating unit A, allowing a method of twocommunication between parent or caregiver and the baby. There is also amute switch 409, allowing the parent or caregiver to mute any soundsfrom the parent or caregiver's end and thereby avoiding disturbing thebaby.

As shown in the FIG. 1A, inside the central operating unit A there is abuilt in motor 104, which is used to rotate the animals hanging throughthe hook under the central operating unit A. Compared with traditionalmobiles, parents won't have to worry about winding the mobile, therebyproviding endless mobile operation set forth in the timer 114. The motor104, is controlled by setting the timer via remote control timer button309 on the remote control shown in FIG. 3A, or by manually setting thetimer by using front panel button 114.

As shown in FIG. 1A, under the central operating unit A there is a basewhere microphone 119 is built in. The base houses the bottom hook 121.The hook, 121, has a safety latch, 120, to prevent the mobile piece Cfrom inadvertently unhooking and falling onto the baby.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the back of the central operating unit A has rubberfoot pads 124, for placement on the unit's back while detached anduploading MP3's. There is also a DC inlet 125 on the back of the centraloperating unit A and a battery compartment 126, allowing remote use. USBport connection 127 is shown on top of the unit.

As shown in FIG. 2, the musical mobile is attached to the crib by thefastener, 201, which fastens arm B to the baby crib or a piece offurniture. The arm B is comprised of three plastic conduits as shown inthe FIG. 2. Plastic conduit items 1 and 2, work together to adjust theheight of the arm. There are three openings, 202, in each of the plasticconduits 2 and 3 to allow for adjustment. Plastic conduit 2's diameteris smaller than plastic conduit 1, so plastic conduit 2 is put inside ofthe plastic conduit 1. Likewise, conduit 3's diameter is smaller thanconduit 2. Pins 205 and 207 are spring loaded which allow retraction andinsertion, while ensuring a safe locking position, and also prevents thebolt from getting lost. The other side of the plastic conduit 3 is ahook, 212, connecting the adjustable arm to central operating unit A.There is a safety latch, 211, on the hook 212, which preventsinadvertent falling of the central operating unit A. The three plasticconduits 1, 2 and 3 allow the DC power cable, 208, provided from AC/DCpower adaptor 213, to safely pass up through to the DC inlet 125 on theback of the central operating unit A shown in FIG. 1B.

As shown in FIG. 3A, 302, is the button to turn on or off the centraloperating unit A. Item 301 is the infrared signaling device to sendsignal to central operating unit A. Timer button, 309 is used to controltimer 114, FIG. 1A. Item 303 is for adjusting MP3 volume, 304 is forplay/pause of MP3, 310 for stopping playing MP3, 311 for previous music,and 312 for next music. 305 for turning on colorful lights, 306 forturning off colorful lights, 307 for reducing lights intensity and 308for increasing colorful light's intensity.

FIG. 3B shows the back of the remote control, 313 is batterycompartment.

FIG. 4A shows baby monitor's remote monitoring unit, 401 is the antennawhich sends and receives signals to and from the baby monitoring unitwithin central operating unit A. Item 402 is the power button forturning on/off the remote monitor unit. Item 403 is a microphone whichinputs voice for transmission to the baby monitoring unit in centraloperating unit A. Item 404 is the speaker which allows parent orcaregiver to hear baby's noise or cries. Item 407 is a volume adjusterand item 408 shows signal strength coming from the baby monitor unitwithin central operating unit A. Item 409 is a mute switch allowingmuting of any sounds from remote end.

FIG. 4B shows the back of baby monitor remote monitoring unit. Item 405is the battery compartment and item 406 is the DC inlet where the AC/DCadaptor connects as shown in FIG. 4C.

FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of the present invention ofelectronic remote control music mobile.

It should be understood that although the MP3 player is used as one ofillustrated embodiment of central operating unit A, other means may beemployed, for instance, through USB connector, the central operatingunit A can be connected to a home computer or blue tooth-technology.Furthermore, as the central operating unit A can be detachable, thecentral operating unit can be made of various forms and can be used as adecoration item, such as to sit on a dresser or table in the room orhang on to the wall.

While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design,the present invention may be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains.

1. The electronic remote control baby music mobile, comprising of anadjustable arm as a means to fasten the electronic mobile to the crib.2. The electronic remote control baby music mobile of claim 1 whereinsaid adjustable support arms include adjusting length (horizontal) orheight (vertical) of arms.
 3. The electronic remote control baby musicmobile of claim 1 wherein said adjustable support arms has safety latchto secure central operating unit.
 4. The electronic remote control babymusic mobile, comprising: a. Central operating unit includes built inMP3, timer, baby monitor baby unit, colorful lights, speakers andelectric motor b. A remote control c. Baby monitor remote monitoringunit d. Rotating mobile
 5. The electronic remote control baby musicmobile of claim 4 wherein said central operating unit includes built inmusic player.
 6. The electronic remote control baby music mobile ofclaim 4 wherein said central operating unit includes USB port foruploading music or connecting to a computer or other sources.
 7. Theelectronic remote control baby music mobile of claim 4 wherein saidcentral operating unit includes a timer for timing music player,rotating mobile, colorful lights.
 8. The electronic remote control babymusic mobile of claim 4 wherein said central operating unit includescolorful lights, intensity of lights are adjustable.
 9. The electronicremote control baby music mobile of claim 4 wherein said centraloperating unit has a built in baby monitor baby unit, transmittingbaby's noise to baby monitor remote monitoring unit, the said babymonitor remote monitoring unit allows parent talk to the baby.
 10. Theelectronic remote control baby music mobile of claim 4 wherein saidcentral operating unit has amplifier/speakers for the MP3 player and/orsound from baby monitor remote monitoring unit.
 11. The electronicremote control baby music mobile of claim 4 wherein said centraloperating unit has a remote controller and wherein said operating unithas a remote sensor, said remote controller will operate music player,timer, colorful lights, and motor.
 12. The electronic remote controlbaby music mobile of claim 4 wherein said central operating unit haspower source, said power source includes battery.
 13. The electronicremote control baby music mobile of claim 4 wherein said centraloperating unit has a port for an electrical cord adapted to couple withan AC/DC adaptor, the said electric cord is housed within the adjustablearms within claim 1 of the electronic remote control baby music mobile.14. The electronic remote control baby music mobile of claim 4 whereinsaid central operating unit is detachable from adjustable arms androtating mobile.
 15. The electronic remote control baby music mobile ofclaim 4 wherein said central operating unit has safety latch to securerotating mobile.
 16. The electronic remote control baby music mobile ofclaim 4 wherein said central operating unit has a built in electricmotor which is controlled by timer within claim
 7. 17. The electronicremote control baby music mobile of claim 4 wherein said centraloperating unit can be made into various forms, such as animal shapes orpopular cartoon characters with various colors.